Trials & Triumphs: Clinical Research Chronicles
June 2025 Edition
Welcome Message
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the June 2025 edition of Trials and Triumph: Clinical Research Chronicles. We open this month's edition discussing From Evidence to Action: Strengthening Research Dissemination and Impact as our feature topic, exploring the importance of moving research beyond the pages of academic journals and into policy and practice.
In our Spotlight section, we celebrate a landmark visit from Mr. Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation, to CCTRIS and the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, an inspiring testament to the global relevance of the impactful work we're doing with the Foundation's support. We also highlight a trio of academic promotions within our team, including our Deputy Director for Implementation Science, who was recently elevated to the rank of Professor.
I hope you enjoy reading this.
Deputy Director (Implementation Science) – CCTRIS
College of Medicine, University of Lagos
Feature Article
From Evidence to Action: Strengthening Research Dissemination and Impact
Producing robust and relevant research is only the beginning, as the true value of scientific evidence lies in its ability to inform policy, transform practice, and improve lives. In clinical and public health research, effective dissemination is essential for ensuring that findings reach the right audiences in formats they can understand and use. This includes not only researchers and clinicians, but also policymakers, programme implementers, donors, and communities who are directly affected by the issues under study.
Yet, dissemination without impact is simply noise. To translate research into change, dissemination efforts must be strategic, targeted, and intentional. This means tailoring messages to each stakeholder group, using appropriate language, media, and channels, and timing communications to align with decision-making cycles. In resource-limited settings, where health challenges are often urgent, this becomes even more critical.
Tools and Strategies for Impactful Dissemination
Several tools and frameworks can help research teams maximise the impact of their work:
- Stakeholder Mapping: Identifying key actors who influence or are influenced by your research enables more focused communication efforts. This includes policymakers, healthcare providers, advocacy groups, media, and beneficiaries.
- Policy Briefs and Evidence Summaries: Clear, concise, and action-oriented documents can bridge the gap between academic findings and policy or programme decisions. They highlight what was studied, why it matters, and what should happen next.
- Knowledge Translation Plans: These outline how research findings will be shared, with whom, and through what mechanisms. Good plans account for both passive dissemination (e.g., academic publications) and active engagement (e.g., stakeholder dialogues, media briefings, or community feedback sessions).
- Monitoring Impact: Tools such as altmetrics, policy citations, and stakeholder feedback help assess how research is being used and whether it is influencing change.
By integrating these approaches early in the research lifecycle and not just after publication, researchers can ensure that their work does not simply sit on shelves or in desk drawers but contributes meaningfully to evidence-informed decision-making and improved health outcomes.
Events and Spotlight
Celebrating Academic Promotions at CCTRIS
We are proud to celebrate a remarkable academic milestone within our Centre. Dr. Mobolanle Balogun, Deputy Director for Implementation Science at CCTRIS, has been promoted to the rank of Professor of Public Health in the Department of Community Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos. This well-deserved elevation reflects her outstanding contributions to public health research, teaching, and capacity-building.
We also extend hearty congratulations to two of our senior researchers, Dr. Doyin Ogunyemi and Dr. Esther Oluwole, on their promotion to Associate Professor in Public Health. Their dedication to advancing knowledge, mentorship, and strengthening public health systems continues to make an impact both within and beyond the Centre.
CCTRIS Welcomes Bill Gates to the College of Medicine, University of Lagos
Wednesday, 4 June 2025 marked a momentous day for the Centre for Clinical Trials, Research, and Implementation Science (CCTRIS) and the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, as we had the distinguished honour of welcoming Mr. Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation, for a high-level visit.
Mr. Gates' visit was a powerful affirmation of the impactful research and partnerships being driven by CCTRIS, particularly through its extensive portfolio of projects supported by the Gates Foundation. During the visit, Mr. Gates engaged with our team to review the progress of ongoing initiatives, assess their real-world impact, and discuss strategic directions for future collaboration. A key highlight of the day was his hands-on interaction with one of our upcoming innovations—AI-powered intrapartum monitoring devices, a promising project poised to advance maternal health outcomes in Nigeria and beyond.
This visit reflects the strength of the collaboration between CCTRIS and the Gates Foundation, a partnership grounded in shared goals to advance health equity and strengthen clinical research capacity in Africa. We extend our sincere appreciation to Mr. Gates and the entire Gates Foundation team for their continued support and commitment to science-driven progress.
Later that evening, Lagos played host to the Goalkeepers "Africa in Motion" event—a first for the city. Themed "The Future of Progress: Africa in Motion," the event showcased African innovation and leadership, bringing together global changemakers passionate about building a healthier, more equitable future.
At CCTRIS, we remain deeply committed to this mission and are proud to be part of the transformative work supported by the Gates Foundation.
Invitation to the CCTRIS Academic Seminar | July Edition
Join us this July as we unpack how strong trial design, rigorous implementation, and thoughtful interpretation work together to generate credible, real-world evidence in clinical research.
Topic: From Protocol to Proof: How Clinical Trials Deliver Trustworthy Evidence
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ibrahim Abioye (Associate Researcher, CCTRIS; Medical Director, Genentech Inc., USA; Faculty Lead, StatsClinic)
🗓 Date: Friday, 18 July 2025
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM (WAT)
📍 Venue: Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL, UNILAG)
Participation is free, but registration is required.
Did You Know?
The concept of precision public health is gaining traction as a way to improve how health interventions are designed and delivered. Borrowing from the principles of precision medicine, which tailors treatment to an individual's genetic and biological profile, precision public health uses data-driven tools, including genomics, geospatial mapping, social determinants of health, and machine learning to target interventions more effectively at the population level.
Instead of "one-size-fits-all" approaches, precision public health focuses on delivering the right intervention to the right population at the right time, especially in resource-limited settings. From predicting outbreaks of infectious diseases to tailoring maternal health services for specific communities, this approach has the potential to increase efficiency, reduce health disparities, and improve outcomes in both prevention and care.